Socrates and Phaedrus, the two main characters of Plato’s Phaedrus, ruminate on many things, ostensibly love and erotic love, however the dialogue also discusses rhetoric itself and the ways in which it is and should be practiced, as well as subjects such as metempsychosis. The dialogue in Phaedrus does not allow for other interlocutors to introduce the story, or a retelling of events preceding the scene. This is somewhat unusual as it comes as a first-hand unmediated dialogue, and plays out almost as if we are witnessing the events ourselves. Socrates’ speeches on love display a presentation of love and erotic love, carnality, as opposing but complimentary factors in the pederastic relationships between older mentors and young boys.
The carnality of passions that Socrates speaks of within the Phaedrus is in regards to a sexual relationship between the older …show more content…
When the soul grows wings and travels through heaven, the ultimate reward is to see what lies beyond it: true Knowledge, true Justice, true Self-Control. These are the perfect Forms that life on earth can only attempt to imitate, and souls that practice enough control over the ‘dark horse’ will be able to catch sight of such forms. According to Socrates, this upwards voyage brings the human soul its greatest reward. This idea of eternal struggle for a reward in heaven is a very Christian rhetoric, and it likens the struggle to purging sin or to making sure that desires and passions and other carnal things are controlled at all times. This idea seems to contrast heavily with the idea of madness being a good thing and a gift from the gods – as the dark horse is almost inherently aligned with the dark and with madness, as are sexual relationships and
The carnality of passions that Socrates speaks of within the Phaedrus is in regards to a sexual relationship between the older …show more content…
When the soul grows wings and travels through heaven, the ultimate reward is to see what lies beyond it: true Knowledge, true Justice, true Self-Control. These are the perfect Forms that life on earth can only attempt to imitate, and souls that practice enough control over the ‘dark horse’ will be able to catch sight of such forms. According to Socrates, this upwards voyage brings the human soul its greatest reward. This idea of eternal struggle for a reward in heaven is a very Christian rhetoric, and it likens the struggle to purging sin or to making sure that desires and passions and other carnal things are controlled at all times. This idea seems to contrast heavily with the idea of madness being a good thing and a gift from the gods – as the dark horse is almost inherently aligned with the dark and with madness, as are sexual relationships and